Sunday, January 31
Wintrust Arena
12:00 P.M. CT
DePaul University
vs
#3/4 Connecticut
No. 17/20 DePaul Confronts No. 3/4 Connecticut on Sunday
1/30/2021 12:51:00 PM | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
South Loop showdown first women's basketball game televised by FOX
CHICAGO – One of the core beliefs that Sonya Morris, Lexi Held, Deja Church and the rest of No. 17/20 DePaul has taken to heart is a team mantra that goes like this:
"We will make adversity our best friend."
There's no telling when that specter of bad news will strike---especially as you navigate a treacherous path circumventing a global pandemic with variants exacerbating the situation.
The Blue Demons have done yeoman's work this season overcoming injuries, disappointment and the isolation mandated by COVID-19 discipline.
On Sunday, they will face another kind of adversity.
This one comes in the form of the always challenging No. 3/4 Connecticut powerhouse that is the gold standard of women's college basketball.
What makes the first women's game ever televised nationally by FOX even tougher is that legendary coach Geno Auriemma will have his talented players ultra-primed after the Huskies sustained their first loss of the season (90-87 at Arkansas) on Thursday night.
It's almost like the South Loop is about to withstand two storms this weekend, only one of the meteorological variety.
The Blue Demons (9-3, 6-1 BIG EAST) will need to be at their Wintrust Arena best at noon against a team determined not to lose back-to-back games.
Coach Doug Bruno's up-tempo, shoot-it-or-share-it style of basketball has to be cranked up to its highest setting. The relentless full-court pressure that has forced the fifth-most turnovers in the nation has to be a disruptive force.
As often is the case, long-distance accuracy is a critical component of a successful outcome. When the three-pointers are connecting over and over again, DePaul becomes a dangerous team.
Morris has been at the apex of DePaul's three-point attack leading the team with 27 from behind the arc and converting at a 40.3 percent frequency. Held has 23 from that locale, Darrione Rogers 19 and Dee Bekelja 18.
The Blue Demons' total of 112 is tops in the BIG EAST, and they also lead in three-point attempts and threes per game. Ball movement will be the key to setting up open looks as UConn (10-1, 8-0) will focus on running DePaul's shooters off the three-point line. Huskies' opponents are shooting just 27.5 percent from deep.
Morris heads up an offense scoring 85.3 points a game with her scoring average of 18.3 points. Held is next at 15.4 points followed by Bekelja (14.1), Church (12.8) and Rogers (11.5).
Once the final horn sounds on Sunday, DePaul will have completed its 13th game and becomes eligible to compete in the NCAA tournament.
Transcendent freshman Paige Bueckers---the nation's top-rated recruit last season---is at the heart of the Huskies' attack averaging 18.1 points a game and also leading Auriemma's program in assists, steals, three-point and free throw percentage. UConn is averaging 85.2 points a game.
Dynamic backcourt mate Christyn Williams is averaging 15.6 points while the 6-foot, 5-inch Olivia Nelson-Ododa (14.5 points, 7.2 rebounds) presents the biggest matchup problem for Bruno and his coaching staff. Evina Westbrook is averaging nearly 12 points a game and leads the team in three-pointers.
"We will make adversity our best friend."
There's no telling when that specter of bad news will strike---especially as you navigate a treacherous path circumventing a global pandemic with variants exacerbating the situation.
The Blue Demons have done yeoman's work this season overcoming injuries, disappointment and the isolation mandated by COVID-19 discipline.
On Sunday, they will face another kind of adversity.
This one comes in the form of the always challenging No. 3/4 Connecticut powerhouse that is the gold standard of women's college basketball.
What makes the first women's game ever televised nationally by FOX even tougher is that legendary coach Geno Auriemma will have his talented players ultra-primed after the Huskies sustained their first loss of the season (90-87 at Arkansas) on Thursday night.
It's almost like the South Loop is about to withstand two storms this weekend, only one of the meteorological variety.
The Blue Demons (9-3, 6-1 BIG EAST) will need to be at their Wintrust Arena best at noon against a team determined not to lose back-to-back games.
Coach Doug Bruno's up-tempo, shoot-it-or-share-it style of basketball has to be cranked up to its highest setting. The relentless full-court pressure that has forced the fifth-most turnovers in the nation has to be a disruptive force.
As often is the case, long-distance accuracy is a critical component of a successful outcome. When the three-pointers are connecting over and over again, DePaul becomes a dangerous team.
Morris has been at the apex of DePaul's three-point attack leading the team with 27 from behind the arc and converting at a 40.3 percent frequency. Held has 23 from that locale, Darrione Rogers 19 and Dee Bekelja 18.
The Blue Demons' total of 112 is tops in the BIG EAST, and they also lead in three-point attempts and threes per game. Ball movement will be the key to setting up open looks as UConn (10-1, 8-0) will focus on running DePaul's shooters off the three-point line. Huskies' opponents are shooting just 27.5 percent from deep.
Morris heads up an offense scoring 85.3 points a game with her scoring average of 18.3 points. Held is next at 15.4 points followed by Bekelja (14.1), Church (12.8) and Rogers (11.5).
Once the final horn sounds on Sunday, DePaul will have completed its 13th game and becomes eligible to compete in the NCAA tournament.
Transcendent freshman Paige Bueckers---the nation's top-rated recruit last season---is at the heart of the Huskies' attack averaging 18.1 points a game and also leading Auriemma's program in assists, steals, three-point and free throw percentage. UConn is averaging 85.2 points a game.
Dynamic backcourt mate Christyn Williams is averaging 15.6 points while the 6-foot, 5-inch Olivia Nelson-Ododa (14.5 points, 7.2 rebounds) presents the biggest matchup problem for Bruno and his coaching staff. Evina Westbrook is averaging nearly 12 points a game and leads the team in three-pointers.
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